heinig



(No Model.)

T. E. C. BRINLY & F. E'. HEINIG.

FENCE POST.

No. 316,599. Patented A rfzs. 1885.,

TV I TJV' E SSES NITED STATEs PATENT Orricn.

' THOMAS o. BRINLY AND FREDERICK 1r. HEINIG, or LOUISVILLE, KY.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIEICATIUN forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,599, dated April 28, 1885.

Application filed September 11, 1884; (No model.)

T aZZ whom it may concerns 'Be it known that we, THOMAS E. C. BRINLY and FREDERICK E. HEINIG, citizens of the UnitedStates, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fences, and the object of our improvements is to provide a simple, inexpensive fence, which will possess advantages in point of durability, firmness, and general efficiency.

It is well known that fences embodying wooden posts are inconvenient or impracticable in some sections of the country, owing to the fact that climatic conditions and the soil cause such posts to rot very rapidly, and,furthermore, such wooden fences are liable to destruction by fire, thus occasioning considerable expense in renewal or substitution, and requiring constant care. As a substitute for such posts under these conditions iron posts have been employed; but inconvenience is experienced in retaining these iron posts in place, in view of the small base with which they are usually provided.

Our present invention is designed to obviate these disadvantages, and this is attained by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a fence embodying our improvements. Fig. 2 is a' transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken through one of the posts. Fig. 4 is a corresponding view taken through the base. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the top of one of the posts. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view illustrating the perforations by which the strands of wire are secured in position.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the base of the post, which is bell-shaped, and preferably formed of common stoneware. By this construction the lower portion of the base is sufficiently broad to provide a secure and positive support for the post, while its top has sufficient width to permit of an opening, a. This opening may be square, circular, or of any other suitable shape, and is adapted to receive the lower end of the post. It is mani fest that this improved base, by reason of its bell-shaped formation, is adapted to securely hold or retain the post against displacement, and when the base is rammed firmly into position in a proper hole in the ground its open bell-shaped bottom greatly enhances its stability and firmness. The base may be of any suitable size or height.

B designates the posts, which are of rightangular form in cross-section, and may be constructed of metallic plate bentinto shape. The lower end of cachangular post is set into the perforation a in the top of one of the stoneware base-pieces, and rests upon a horizontal bottom or partition, a provided therein at a point below the opening in the top. The space within the base, above said partition and around the end of the post, is filled with plaster-of-paris or other suitable material adapted to be poured into position, which when set, as illustrated at I), will retain the post securely in position in the stoneware base-piece.

WVhen the posts are set in the desired position, the longitudinal top board, 0, is secured to one of the flanges of the right-angular posts by means of a screw, 0, or in any other suita ble manner, this board being disposed above the other flange of the posts, as illustrated. The top board performs the office of a stockguard to prevent the stock from accidentally running into contact with the barbed-wire strands comprised in the fence.

In one of the flanges of each post is provided a vertical series of perforations, D, from which the flange is slit or cut to the edge, as shown at d. These cuts are preferably disposed at a sharp angle; but they may be provided in any other suitable manner adapted to form a point which may be bent out from the face of the flange, as illustrated in Fig. 6, to permit the strands of wire to be set in the perforations. The points are then adapted to be bent back or returned to their normal position, so that the strands of wire, which are preferably barbed, will be securely retained against displacement.

From this construction it is manifest that the wirercan be readily and conveniently s'ecured in position, and is not liable to displacement or damage.

We do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the exact construction herein specified, but reserve the right to all such modifications as properly fall within the spirit and scope of our invention.

We are aware that fences have been heretofore constructed with bell-shaped bases in which are set metallic posts carrying strands of wire or boards, and such we do not, therefore, broadly claim as our invention.

We claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination of the herein-described bell-shaped earthenware base formed with a top in which is provided the rectangular opening a, and with the horizontal bottom a below 20 the same, the right-angular post set in the opening (1 upon the bottom of, one flange of the post being formed with the openings D, the plastic filling b,set around the end of the post, the strands of wire passed through said 25 openings,and the top rail or board,O, secured against one of the flanges of the post and resting upon the other fiange,substantial1y as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures 30 in presence of two witnesses.

THOS. E. O. BRINLY.

FREDERICK E. HEINIG. Witnesses: v I

ANTON EOKERLE, 0. M. SUMMERs. 

